NRS Foam Paddle Float

There are many different brands and styles of paddle floats. When I purchased mine (my very first paddle float), it was a toss-up between this one or an inflatable one. My decision was swayed to this one by the fact that I like to kayak later into the cold season. If I happen to tip over during the colder months, the last thing I want to do is hang out in the cold water while I blow up an inflatable paddle float. Once I received the "NRS", I found the many other benefits of this float. Of course it serves its intended purpose and easily helps all 200 pounds of me re-enter my kayak. It fits the paddle snuggly without wiggle or sway. I also use it as back support for long paddles, by wedging it "tall-ways" between my backrest and edge of my cockpit. You can't imagine the huge difference this makes in lessening back fatigue after 4-7 straight hours in a kayak. It sometimes serves as a "camping seat" when I'm out of the boat, as well as a kneeling pad when needed. Although I have not had to use it for signaling, I'm sure it would be 100 times more visible than my black paddle, especially in lower light situations, and at night due to reflective strips. The foam is dense and firm. It could be used as a camp pillow if you prefer a very firm type of pillow. Mine gets a lot of HARD use, which I don't think it was actually intended for, but it still works great. If or when the time comes to purchase a new one, I'll buy another one of these. This is actually the 2nd one I have purchased. The first was mine, this one is for my girlfriend, because she was jealous of the back support.

I just took this float with me to a safety and rescue class in the bay (open water). I was the only one with the foam unit, everyone else have those blow-up floats. Before we got in the water, the instructor commented to the group to avoid the foam paddle floats, saying they're bulky and take up deck space which could hinder rescues, etc, and that they're good for seat cushions on the beach. They didn't know the float was mine, nor did I admit to it.At the exercise, I rolled myself & kayak over on the water.... I put my paddle into the float pocket, buckle it up and did my first self-rescue with the paddle & float. Before long, I was in the boat bilging the water out while others were still in treading water, some still in middle of blowing up their floats.So, the float works great, it's quick and easy to secure to the paddle and attempt the self-rescue. And per my instructors, they also make great seat cushions. :) The float is bulky (compared to the inflatable ones) at 16x8x3", but i can self rescue very quickly. And as a safety equipment, I like that.

While I have been rafting for a number of years I am a newbie at paddling. I recently acquired a sixteen-foot touring kayak. While on one of my first trial runs with it I upset the boat and found myself in the water. I was unable to get back in while still in the river without assistance from a paddling buddy. My friend had a paddle float, something I had never heard of before. Making use of it he had me back in my kayak in no time at all.The very first thing I did was order a paddle float of my own. The second thing was to schedule a paddling class through Aqua Adventures Kayak Center in San Diego. This turned out to be a two hour one-on-one individually tailered course of instruction.I highly recommend AAKC and, of course, having a paddle float of your own.Mike ColtrinTucson

Got it today and went to the lake to practice self rescues. Worked like a charm. Easy to get the float on and off. Easily kept my 200 pounds from flipping. Not bad for a 66 y.o. with artificial hips and a bad back.

The media could not be loaded.  It's a good float but it doesn't have enough buoyancy to do a side re-entry... good enough to do a cowboy remount but you can do that without a paddle float..This however makes it easier and more stable... when the cockpit is half full of water the kayak is very tippy and this gives you a big advantage

I bought this as a float to practice self-rescue with and to use in cold water-weather since I figure that once in the water I'd rather use time to get back in the boat, not blowing up an inflatable. The trade-off, of course, its the foam float is bulky on the deck of my Chatham. It's really quick to use and the flotation is better than I expected (I am 5'10, 185lbs).This float is well made and for the price a bargain. And, I do use an inflatable in warmer weather-water, and as a backup in case I need double floats.

Like others, I bought this float to avoid the need/delay to inflate a double-chambered paddle float, especially in cooler water. But buying this float was a mistake and I'm now stuck with an overpriced foam seat for sitting on sand. Learn from my mistake.Before practicing a rescue recently, another kayaker had warned me that the foam floats often had inadequate flotation. And despite giving this float the old college try, I was unable to use it successfully to re-enter my boat. With even just one foot on the paddle, this float sinks substantially below the water surface, I'd estimate at least 4 to 6 inches, possibly more. The instructor also confirmed that the float had insufficient flotation, upon seeing how deep it sank under the surface. And I'm a petite 5'4 woman, so I'm in the smaller range for paddlers.I easily completed the same rescue using my tried and true NRS inflatable paddle float; with that float, the paddle stays at the surface of the water even with all my body weight on it. So, despite the extra inflation time involved, I'd strongly recommend buying the inflatable NRS model over this foam model.